Red Sox

Saltalamacchia Backtracks On ‘Latin Players’ Comment

BOSTON, MA – AUGUST 30: Francisco Cervelli #17 of the New York Yankees reacts after he is hit by a pitch as catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia #39 of the Boston Red Sox and home plate umpire Ed Rapuano try to calm Cervelli down on August 30, 2011 at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)

“Younger guys are coming in, I’ve seen it: Elvis Andrus, Escobar over at short, a lot of guys… It’s just the Latin players,” Saltalamacchia said. “That’s the way they play the game. It’s OK to an extent. If you go a little further than that, that’s when you gotta kinda step back.”

Sean McAdam, a frequent contributor to 98.5 The Sports Hub, said Salty later stepped back from his comments, clarifying that he meant that younger players are brought up with a different code than some of the veterans.

“I basically wanted to clarify and say I wasn’t trying to say ‘Latin’ players or any of that stuff,” Saltalamacchia said later. “I was just saying he was an emotional guy and a lot of the younger guys coming up were emotional players and they’re young guys coming up, wanting to make a name, and stick around. The game’s changed a little bit from when the older guys were coming up and veterans were a key in their development. So, basically, I was saying he’s a real emotional guy and I have no issues with him, doing what he does, because that’s the player he is.”

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